Last week, NBC announced that Chuck Todd will be replacing David Gregory as moderator of the network’s Sunday morning public affairs program, “Meet the Press.” The change comes as ratings have continued to slip for the show after Gregory took over in 2008. “Meet the Press” fell from the number one spot under moderator Tim Russert, who passed away in 2008, to third behind CBS’s “Face the Nation” and ABC’s “This Week” during Gregory’s tenure.
CNN’s “Reliable Sources” had on guests Frank Sesno, Director of GW University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, and Jay Rosen, Professor of Journalism at NYU, to discuss whether the change would work, if these Sunday morning shows are even still relevant, and how to fix them if they are.
Both hosts agreed that shows like “Meet the Press” are still relevant because there are people across the country very interested in politics and public affairs, but they need to change their format to meet an audience with more access to information than ever before.
“‘Meet the Press’ became ‘Greet the Talking Points,’” said Rosen. “I don’t think Gregory ever realized that problem; he certainly didn’t have the wit to solve it.
Watch the entire interview.
